Hinge with opening occupied by an intumescent material

Abstract

A hinge for use with a fire door has a blade in which there are formed a number of screw holes and a larger opening. The larger opening is filled with an intumescent material.

I claim: 
     
       1. A butt hinge comprising first and second members and a pivot for connecting the members for relative pivoting about an axis of the hinge, wherein at least the first of said members includes a plate-like portion and has a plurality of holes through which screws can pass to secure the plate-like portion in face-to-face relation with a structure to which the first member of the hinge is to be fixed, characterized in that the plate-like portion has at least one opening which is of larger area than each said screw hole and which opening is occupied by an intumescent material. 
     
     
       2. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the area of said opening is a plurality of times greater than the aggregate area of said holes in the first member. 
     
     
       3. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said opening lies between the hinge axis and at least one of said holes. 
     
     
       4. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein the intumescent composition completely fills the opening. 
     
     
       5. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said first member forms a closed loop around the opening. 
     
     
       6. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein there is in said first member a further opening which is also larger than the screw holes. 
     
     
       7. A hinge according to claim 1 wherein said opening extends over at least one half of the width of said first member, measured from the hinge axis to an edge of the first member remote from the hinge axis. 
     
     
       8. In combination, a structure defining a doorway, a door for closing the doorway, and a plurality of hinges connecting the door with said structure for pivoting relative to the structure, wherein at least one of said hinges is a butt hinge as defined in claim 1 and is interposed between an edge of the door and said structure. 
     
     
       9. A combination according to claim 8 wherein the first member of said one hinge extends across more than two thirds of the thickness of the door. 
     
     
       10. A combination according to claim 8 wherein the area of said opening is a plurality of times greater than the aggregate area of said holes in the first member. 
     
     
       11. A combination according to claim 8 wherein said opening lies between the hinge axis and at least one of said holes. 
     
     
       12. A soffit hinge comprising first and second members and a pivot for connecting the members for relative pivoting about an axis of the hinge, wherein the first of said members is a plate which, in use, is fixed to a head of a frame defining a doorway and has a plurality of holes through which screws can pass to secure the plate-like portion in face-to-face relation with the head characterized in that the plate has at least one opening which is of larger area than each said screw hole and in that said opening is occupied an intumescent material. 
     
     
       13. A soffit hinge according to claim 12 wherein the area of said opening is a plurality of times greater than the aggregate area of said holes in the first member. 
     
     
       14. A soffit hinge according to claim 12 wherein said opening lies between the hinge axis and at least one of said holes. 
     
     
       15. In combination, a structure defining a doorway and including a soffit, a door for closing the doorway and a plurality of hinges connecting the door with said structure for pivoting relative to the structure, wherein one of said hinges is a soffit hinge as defined in claim 6 and wherein said first member is fixed to the soffit and lies between the soffit and the door when the door is closed. 
     
     
       16. A combination according to claim 15 wherein the area of said opening is a plurality of times greater than the aggregate area of said holes in the first member. 
     
     
       17. A combination according to claim 16 wherein said opening lies between the hinge axis and at least one of said holes.